My Method Actor is the third studio album by English singer Nilüfer Yanya, released on 13 September 2024 through Ninja Tune. It is Yanya's first album on the label, and follows her 2022 album Painless. The album was preceded by the singles "Like I Say (I Runaway)", "Method Actor", "Call It Love", "Mutations", "Made Out Of Memory", and "Just A Western".
Background and recording Yanya worked on the album with the producer Wilma Archer, and wrote and recorded it in London, Eastbourne, and Wales. Yanya called the album the "most intense [...] in that respect. Because it's only been us two. We didn't let anyone else into the bubble." The album centres on the theme of "entering a transition between one part of life into another".
Critical reception
My Method Actor was met with widespread acclaim reviews from critics. Matthew Schnipper of Pitchfork notes "On her third and best album, My Method Actor, she’s matured, found herself, chilled out—whatever you want to call it, it’s made her music more triumphant, less nervous. It’s an album that has the feel of everyday luxury, a collection of songs so assured that they feel like they always existed, and Yanya simply plucked them out of the air to give to you." John Amen of The Line of Best Fit wrote, "If Painless exudes the magic of an artist discovering new plateaus, My Method Actor is a refinement of those now integrated proclivities". Year-end lists + Select year-end rankings for My Method Actor Publication/critic Accolade RankExclaim! 50 Best Albums of 202414Uncut 80 Best Albums of 202455Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 202413Under the RadarTop 100 Albums of 20242
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Nilüfer Yanya – lead vocals, design Will Archer – production, electric guitar (all tracks); acoustic guitar (tracks 1–7), programming (1, 4), keyboards (1, 9), bass guitar (2, 3), backing vocals (2, 6–8, 10, 11), piano (3, 4, 6, 7), baritone guitar (3, 5), drums (5–7, 9, 10), synthesizer (7, 9), classical guitar (8, 10), field recording (11) Matt Colton – mastering, lacquer cut Nathan Boddy – mixing Ellis Dupuy – drums (track 3) Joe Harvey-Whyte – pedal steel guitar (tracks 3–5, 9) Clíona Ní Choileáin – cello (tracks 5, 7) Dave Lynch – additional vocal engineering (tracks 1–9), drum engineering (3) Molly Daniel – photography Polly Mercher – make-up, hair Tess Herbet – styling Jenna Coombs – set styling
Charts + Chart performance for My Method Actor Chart (2024) Peakposition
References